Expressive Painting Techniques - How To Avoid The Coloring Book Look

Expressive Painting Techniques

Expressive Painting Techniques - Avoid This Common Problem

This Expressive painting techniques lesson includes tips on how to implement drawing into your artwork. More importantly you will discover how to avoid the most common problem I see with artists when using this technique - the coloring book mistake. Basically instead drawing creatively, or organically, the lines are applied in a coloring book manner. You know, just outlining the edges & prominent details; like a coloring book. Why is this not good? It's predictable and pretty boring in my opinion, and lacks creativity.

What You Need to Know

If you want to paint expressively you need a sense of fearlessness and risk in your art. And this quality originates from one place - application.

How you apply linear interest to your artwork is a direct result of how comfortable and confident you are with the subject & medium.

This isn't the time for being timid.

To help you visually understand this concept I've included the illustration. It includes two versions of a structure, one 'tight' and the other is 'loose'.

In the 'tight' (on the left hand side of the illustration) example you will see how I trace the edges & prominent details.

In the 'loose' example I stray away from the coloring book method by using the lines in a more organic & creative way.

Before you add the drawing medium try to envision an entry point and an exit point. So, where does the line begin and where does it end. This assessment will help you add the stroke more confidently.

In the 'loose' example the charcoal is introduced by utilizing the darks in the shadows.It's my 'entry' point. So, right away I'm avoiding the mistake of tracing the edges.

Notice the freedom & carefree linear interest created by the charcoal in the 'loose' version as opposed to the flat look of the 'coloring book' example.

Remember: It's critical to take your time when adding lines to your art. What I mean is you need to observe the painting for a while and plan where you can 'introduce' the line into the subject and how that line would then travel through the features & details of the subject. This will help you apply the charcoal in a more confident manner thus resulting in a more striking painting.

Demonstration Images

Coloring Book Example - Not Good

Creative And Loose Example - Much Better

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